talkin’ crack bars

Why hello there beautiful.

Did you think I was talking to you?

If you did, I’m sorry – because I sure wasn’t talking to you.

Unless you are bars that are filled with a naturally sweet strawberry filling then I’m not talking to you.

I was talking to these bars.

I try extremely hard not to talk to my food on a regular basis, at least while others are around.

You see, I have this reputation of being the “weird” girl. Sometimes, I dance in my car just so others driving have something to laugh at. I talk to the Husband in a singing voice when I want him to listen to me. I actually enjoy waking up at a time that seems like the middle of the night to others to get in a workout. I already take pictures of my food.

Case in point, I really shouldn’t talk to my food – unless the food talks back. Which in my lifetime has never happened. I can make a mean bar, but I can’t work miracles people.

Not talking to food is really hard to do when you make something that tastes like banana bread on crack – which is basically what these bars are. Crack is in the form of a strawberry fruit middle. Crack never tasted so good.

I even think I have a chance at the Husband trying these without complaining. Because if I know anything about the Husband, it’s that he loves anything with a strawberry middle. And if I don’t know anything, it’s that I always thought I was never supposed to start a sentence with the word “because”. Because real writers don’t do that – or so I tell my fifth graders.

I’m already envisioning my breakfast tomorrow (oatmeal – what else did you expect from me?) with one of these bars crumbled on the top. Because oatmeal is not complete without a baked good on top – or without a spoonful of coconut ice cream at the end. Just don’t tell my mom. Because I was never allowed to eat ice cream for breakfast as a child.

I need to stop starting sentences with the word because. And yes, I know I’m not supposed to start sentences with the connecting word “and”. I get it. And I don’t care.

And yes, you can come over for some of these.

Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Bars (makes 16-20 bars, depending on cutting preferences)

• 1 and 1/2 cups gluten free all purpose flour
• 1 and 3/4 cups gluten free oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 banana, smashed
• 2 tbsp. agave nectar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup almond milk
• 1 pound strawberries, divided
• 3 dates, pitted
• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, combine your flour, oats, baking soda, and salt – mix these ingredients together. In another small mixing bowl, combine your smashed banana, vanilla, agave, water, and almond milk. Stir until semi-smooth and add to your dry ingredients. Stir the bar batter until the wet and dry ingredients are incorporated. Set aside the batter.

To make the filling, first hull all of your strawberries. In a food processor, process 3/4 of the strawberries with the dates. Dice the rest of the strawberries and add them to the strawberry filling.

To assemble the bars, first spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray (or coat with coconut oil – yum!). Spread half of the batter evenly on the bottom of the pan and top with the strawberry filling. Gently drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter on top of the filling. Lastly, sprinkle the bars with coconut and cinnamon and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
 

 
Dessert or breakfast? You decide.

Yes, I’m actually talking to you now. I decided having internet friends was less weird than talking to food – kind of.

Gosh, I just want to gobble you up!

And I’m back to talking to my food. Because I’m weird. And I like it.

And who says you shouldn’t start sentences with because or and anyways?

Question: What is a something you do that others would find “weird”?

PS – Don’t forget to enter my Teeccino giveaway!

Tagged as: baking, banana, cooking, fruit filling, gluten free, oatmeal bars, special diet, strawberries, talking to food, vegan